A Leper is a person who has been rejected or ostracized for unacceptable behavior, opinions, character, or the like; anathema; outcast. Since the disease of Leprosy is often rare, when referring to “A Leper”, one would think of the above definition. Like St. Francis, I must embrace the Leper to find the redemption and freedom that my soul so earnestly seeks. This Leper could be a portion of society that I avoid, hate or reject or this Leper could be the secret and shameful part of my soul that thwarts the growth in my Faith.
The internal Leper must be dealt with first. In order for me to see the world without fear and suspicion, without stereotypes and without ignorance, I must deal with my own internal questions, fear, doubt and distrust. Not only is this a present day wall that I call a ‘limitation’, but there is also that internal sin that shames me and impedes my growth as well. There is much to do on the inside in order to prepare for the embracing of the Leper (society).
Those that I fear, even myself are still called the embodiment of God’s beauty and all deserve to be loved. I am a unique and special creation of God, His works in me are genius, but so are those that stand around me. We are all special and unique, all genius creations of God. To see past the fear and hate and begin to see myself in others, to see Christ in others. To break down those barriers of limitations that drive and feed the ego that causes me to continue seeing in the shallow and stereotype filled world; this is what I strive for.
I am a caring and compassionate person and I like people, but I don’t know what it is that can take me from this place of openness and throws me against that wall of fear and suspicion over and over again. I know that “everyone” is a unique creation of God and His creative genius. And I know that to “embrace the Leper” is to embrace all people like Jesus did. So by embracing the Leper I am able to have victory over my judgement, my bigotry, my fear and my false assumptions.
In order for me to embrace the Leper, I must first embrace my internal Leper. The shame that hides in me, the fear that plagues my thoughts and wears down my heart, and the brokenness I still cling too. In order to do that I must “give God myself in my nakedness, in who I really am”. And who I really am is angry, afraid and shameful. I need to allow God to fix that brokenness and stay out of it, because my efforts will only be a hindrance.
Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from our presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.[1]
What do I need to embrace in order to move forward and go deeper? I need to know not only in my mind but deep into my heart and my gut that we are all one in Christ Jesus. And that God sees my flaws and accepts them and me for who I am, not who I try to be. Just like Emerson’s symbol of the “Hand”; in unity (whether it is unity in me or unity within Christianity) is the only way for growth in Faith and in God. If one branch (finger) separates from its source (hand), than God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled.
“The Good News of the Gospel is that there is no Leper, we are all one in Christ!”
This is what I need to embrace in my daily walk of revelation, death and restoration. I continue to strive for that narrow way and press on up the mountain of God’s perfect plan for my life and those I can bless. The Leper I long to embrace!
[1] Psalm 51:10,12
The internal Leper must be dealt with first. In order for me to see the world without fear and suspicion, without stereotypes and without ignorance, I must deal with my own internal questions, fear, doubt and distrust. Not only is this a present day wall that I call a ‘limitation’, but there is also that internal sin that shames me and impedes my growth as well. There is much to do on the inside in order to prepare for the embracing of the Leper (society).
Those that I fear, even myself are still called the embodiment of God’s beauty and all deserve to be loved. I am a unique and special creation of God, His works in me are genius, but so are those that stand around me. We are all special and unique, all genius creations of God. To see past the fear and hate and begin to see myself in others, to see Christ in others. To break down those barriers of limitations that drive and feed the ego that causes me to continue seeing in the shallow and stereotype filled world; this is what I strive for.
I am a caring and compassionate person and I like people, but I don’t know what it is that can take me from this place of openness and throws me against that wall of fear and suspicion over and over again. I know that “everyone” is a unique creation of God and His creative genius. And I know that to “embrace the Leper” is to embrace all people like Jesus did. So by embracing the Leper I am able to have victory over my judgement, my bigotry, my fear and my false assumptions.
In order for me to embrace the Leper, I must first embrace my internal Leper. The shame that hides in me, the fear that plagues my thoughts and wears down my heart, and the brokenness I still cling too. In order to do that I must “give God myself in my nakedness, in who I really am”. And who I really am is angry, afraid and shameful. I need to allow God to fix that brokenness and stay out of it, because my efforts will only be a hindrance.
Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from our presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.[1]
What do I need to embrace in order to move forward and go deeper? I need to know not only in my mind but deep into my heart and my gut that we are all one in Christ Jesus. And that God sees my flaws and accepts them and me for who I am, not who I try to be. Just like Emerson’s symbol of the “Hand”; in unity (whether it is unity in me or unity within Christianity) is the only way for growth in Faith and in God. If one branch (finger) separates from its source (hand), than God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled.
“The Good News of the Gospel is that there is no Leper, we are all one in Christ!”
This is what I need to embrace in my daily walk of revelation, death and restoration. I continue to strive for that narrow way and press on up the mountain of God’s perfect plan for my life and those I can bless. The Leper I long to embrace!
[1] Psalm 51:10,12
